Fluorescent fixture



Sept. 1, 1964 T. B. ToTTEN 3,146,957

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FLUoREscENT FIXTURE Filed Nov. s, 1961 United States Patent O 3,146,957FLURESCENT FIXTURE Thomas B. Totten, Agincourt, Untario, Canada,assigner to CzM Products Limited, a company of Canada Filed Nov. 8,ll96l, Ser. No. 151,103 21 Claims. (El. 24h-51.11)

The present invention relates to a socket plate and end plate structurefor fluorescent lighting fixtures.

In present practice socket plates and end plates for fluorescentlighting fixtures are separately formed and finished for mounting on thefluorescent fixtures. In normal practice, it is necessary to form thechannel of the lighting fixture, form the socket plate, form theplurality of end plates, paint each of the portions separately, andsubsequently assemble the completed fixture.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of known fixtureconstructions by providing a one piece combined socket plate and endplate structure, which may be formed to its finished shape, assembled tothe fixture and the whole fixture painted in one operation. It will bereadily appreciated that this procedure considerably simplies themanufacture of a fluorescent lighting fixture. Further the assembly ofthe fixture is greatly simplified since the socket plate and end plateare formed from one piece of material and are not severed duringmanufacture. Further in accordance with the invention, portions of thesocket plate and end plate assembly may be severed and used forconnecting between adjacent channel segments where fluorescent lightingfixtures are mounted in end to end relation, such as is common practiceWhere large areas are to be lit using such fixtures.

Further it will be appreciated that using the socket plate and end plateof the present invention, it is possible to mount the sockets and wirethem to the associated electrical equipment in the fixture and thenrotate the socket plates so that the sockets lie below the upper edge ofthe channel of the fixture. Thus the fixture may be very convenientlypackaged and quickly assembled for use at its ultimate destination.

The present invention includes the blank from which the socket plate andend plate assembly is formed. In accordance with the present invention aone piece blank for forming a socket plate and end plate structure for afluorescent lighting fixture comprises a pair of first panels havingtherebetween a space for receiving a second panel, a third panel joinedto said pair of first panels by a first pair of aligned fold lines, asecond fold line parallel to said first pair of fold lines and joiningsaid second and third panels, a third pair of parallel fold linesjoining each first panel to a fourth panel, said third pair of foldlines extending normal to and intersecting said first pair of foldlines, a fourth pair of aligned fold lines extending parallel to saidfirst pair of fold lines and joining a fifth panel to the said pair offirst panels, said second panel on folding along said second fold linebeing adapted to form a socket mounting plate, said third panel onfolding along said first pair of fold lines being adapted to form afront plate and said pair of first panels forming a pair of top plates,said fourth panels on folding along said third fold lines forming a pairof side flanges, said fifth panel on folding along said fourth pair offold lines forming an end plate.

A socket plate and end plate assembly for a fluorescent lighting fixtureconstructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a pair oftop plates having a space therebetween adapted to receive a fluorescentlighting socket, a front plate connected with and extending at rightangles to said top plates, a socket plate connecting said front plateand aligned in a plane parallel to the plane of said top plates, saidsocket plate being positioned to receive and support a socket positionedin the space ice between said top plates, a pair of side flangesextending at right angles and in the same direction as said front plateand connected to said top plates, said side flanges being normal to thefront plate, and an end plate connected to said top plates and extendingparallel to and in the same direction as said front plate.

Such a socket plate and end plate assembly in accordance with theinvention may also be formed from a one piece blank having a first panelhaving an opening therein adapted to receive a fluorescent lightingsocket and joined to a pair of second panels by spaced parallel foldlines, a third panel connected to said first panel by a weakenedportion, a fourth panel connected to said third panel by a weakenedportion parallel to said first weakened portion, said fourth panel beingjoined to a pair of fifth panels by parallel fold lines parallel withsaid above mentioned parallel lines, a sixth panel joined to said fourthpanel by a fold line parallel to said weakened portions, said secondfifth and sixth panels being adapted to be folded in the same directionand at right angles to the first and fourth panels respectively to forma socket plate and end plate joined by said third panel, said thirdpanel being adapted to be severed from said first panel and said fourthpanel at said weakened portion, said end plate being adapted to nestwithin said socket plate for connection thereto.

`In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

FIGURE l is a plan View of the blank for forming a combined socket plateand end plate assembly for holding two fluorescent light sockets,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG- URE 1 folded to forma socket plate and end plate assembly,

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the assembly shown in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View showing the joining of a pair offluorescent lighting fixture channels using sockets and end plateassemblies in accordance with the present invention,

FIGURE 6 shows a socket plate and end plate assembly constructed inaccordance with the present invention mounted in the channel of afluorescent lighting fixture,

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming a socket plate and endplate assembly,

FIGURE 8 is a plan View of the blank of FIGURE 7 folded to form a socketplate and end plate assembly,

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of the assembly shown in FIGURE 8,

FIGURE l0 is a front elevation of the assembly shown in FIGURE 8,

FIGURE ll is a perspective view showing the use of the socket plate andend plate in accordance with the present invention where a pair of likechannels are to be joined by the end plate structure, and,

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing the use of a socket plate andend plate assembly for forming a closed end on a fixture.

As shown in FIGURE 1, a blank for forming a combined socket plate andend plate for mounting a pair of fluorescent lighting sockets in thechannel of a fluorescent lighting fixture comprises three top plates 20,2l and 22. These three top plates are joined to a front plate 23 bymeans of a fold line 24. A pair of socket plates 25 and 26 are similarlyjoined to the front plate 23 by a fold line 27. A pair of side flanges28 and 29 are joined to the top plates 20 and 22 respectively by foldlines 30 and 31 respectively. An end plate 32 is joined to the topplates 2f), 2l and 22 by a fold line 33. An end plate extension 34 isconnected to the end plate by means of a weakened line 35, so that theend plate extension 34 may be severed from the end plate 32 along theweakened line 35.

The side flanges 28 and 29 are each provided with outwardly extrudedholes 36 and 37. Similarly each of the side flanges 28 and 29 areprovided with slots 33 and 39.

The socket plates 2S and 26 are provided with mounting holes 40 formounting sockets thereon. The end plate 32 is provided with a pair oflocking tabs 41 and 42 against which the free ends 43 and 44 of thesocket plates 25 and 26 abut when the blank is folded to its finishedform. A hole 4S is provided in the top plate 21 to which a closure panelof the fluorescent lighting fixture may be fastened when the fixture hasbeen mounted in its final position. A knock out 46 is provided in theend plate 32 in the usual manner to provide access to the interior ofthe fixture for connecting electrical connections to the sockets of theballast.

The end plate extension 34 is provided with a pair of holes 47 and 48 ofdiameter adapted to receive the extruded edges of holes 36 and 37 in theside flanges 28 and 29. Similarly a pair of smaller diameter holes 49and 50 are provided adjacent the centre of the end plate extension 34through which fastening screws may be threaded.

FIGURE 2 shows the socket plate and end plate as formed from the blankof FIGURE l. It will be seen that the front plate 23, the side flanges28 and 29 and the end plate 32 have been folded normal to the top plates20, 21 and 22. The socket plates 25 and 26 have also been folded normalto the front plates 23 and thus lie below and parallel to the top plates20, 21 and 22. Thus spaces are provided between the top plates 20, 21and 22 in which the sockets of the fluorescent lighting fixture may bemounted. As may be seen in FIGURE 2 the tabs 41 and 42 serve to supportthe free ends 43 and 44 of the socket plates 25 and 26. It may also beseen that the hole 45 is suitably positioned for having a retainingscrew passed therethrough to retain the cover on the fixture.

The extruded holes 36 and 37 may be seen to project from the side plates28 and 29 and thus may be inserted in holes of suitable size formed inthe sides of the fixture, for retaining the socket plate and end plateassembly in position. It will also be appreciated that the extrudedholes 36 and 37 will serve as a pivot around which the socket plate andend plate assembly may be pivoted in the fixture.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the socket plate and end plate of FIGURE 2and clearly shows that the socket mounting plates 25 and 26 are spacedbelow and parallel to the top plates 20, 21 and 22.

Similarly FIGURE 4 clearly shows that the combined socket plate and endplate assembly is closed in at the top and sides providing aself-contained and complete unit.

FIGURE shows a pair of like fluorescent fixture channels 51 and 52 inwhich a pair of socket plate and end plate assemblies constructed inaccordance with the present invention are used and wherein a pair of endplate extensions are used to connect the adjacent channel segmentstogether. It will be appreciated that one of the two socket plate andend plate assemblies is not visible in this perspective view, itspresence being indicated by the pair of end plate extensions 53 and 54shown in the figure. As may be seen a socket plate and end plateassembly 55 is mounted in the channel 52, the extruded hole in each sideof the assembly 55 fitting within holes formed in the sides of thechannel 52. The end plate extensions 53 and 54 are similarly positionedso that the extruded holes are within the hole in the end of the endplate extension. As may be seen the two fixture channels are assembledtogether by inserting screws 56 into the central holes in the end plateextension 54 and similarly screws are inserted in the end plateextension 53. The holes in the outer ends of each of the end plateextensions are placed over the extruded hole in the opposite assembly.Subse- 4 quently, screws are passed through holes provided in the wallsof the channels and threaded into the extruded holes in the assemblies.These screws may conveniently be of the self-tapping or sheet metaltype.

FIGURE 6 shows a pair of fluorescent lighting sockets 60 and 61 mountedin a socket plate and end plate assembly 62 which is in turn mounted ina channel 63 of a fluorescent lighting fixture. The end plate 64 isshown with the end plate extension 65 removed and with a hole 66 thereinformed by the removal of the knock-out. It will be appreciated that whenthe knock-out is removed to form the hole 66 that the end plate 65 wouldnot simultaneously be removed.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming a combined end plate andsocket plate assembly for a fluorescent lighting fixture, which consistsof a top plate 20', a pair of side flanges 28' and 29', an end plate 32having a knock-out 46' therein, a pair of side tabs 70 and 71 fixed tothe end plate 32 by means of fold lines 72 and 73 and a bottom tab 74xed to the end plate 32 by a fold line 75. The end plate 32 is connectedto the top plate 20 by means of a top tab 76 which is fastened to theend plate 32' by a weakened portion 77 and to the top plate 20' by aweakened portion 78. As before a pair of extruded holes 36' and 37 areformed in the side flanges 28' and 29' for connecting the top plate andend plate assembly to the fixture. The side flanges 28 and 29 areadapted to be folded normal to the top plate 20 and parallel to eachother to form the side portions of the socket plate assembly. Similarly,side tabs 70 and 71 of the bottom tab 74 are adapted to be folded in thesame direction as the side flanges 28 and 29 to form an end plateassembly. The combined socket plate and end plate assembly is in thisform, fastened to the channel of a fluorescent lighting fixture and thechannel together with the assembly is painted as a unit.

The appearance of the assembly prior to being fastened to the channel ofthe fixtures is shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and 10. FIGURE 8 being a planview, FIGURE 9 is a side elevation and FIGURE 10 is a front elevation ofthe assembly after it is folded. It will be noted in FIG URE 9 that eachof the side tabs 70 and its counterpart l1 is provided with three holes,which may be used for connecting the end plate portion of the channel ofthe fixture as is shown in FIGURES l1 and l2.

FIGURE ll illustrates the method of connecting the end plate assembly tothe channel of a fixture when a pair of like channels are to be joinedusing the end plate. As shown the top tab 76 has been severed from thetop plate 20 and the socket plate assembly along the weakened portion78. The top tab 76 is then folded at right angles to the end plate 32and is fastened in the end of the channel of each fixture using thescrews 80 passing through the holes 81 and 82.

As shown in FIGURE 12 when the channel of the fixture is not to beconnected to an adjacent channel the end plate 32 is placed in aVertical position and affixed to the channel by means of the screw 8f]passing through either the hole 83 or the hole S1. If no electricalconnections `are to be made through the knock-out 46 then the top tab 76is broken from the end plate 32 and the screw 8f) is passed through hole81. If, however, electrical connections are to be made through theknock-out 46 then additional space is required at the end of the fixtureand the top tab 76 is folded down to lie between the side tabs of theend plate assembly and is fastened to the channel of the fixture bypassing the screw 8f) through the hole 83.

Thus a variety of alternate constructions are provided for with a singleblank and the manufacture of the fixtures is greatly simplified. Aspreviously mentioned the sockets may be mounted on the socket plateassembly and wired to the ballast and the external connections afterwhich the socket plate assembly may be rotated about the extruded holesso that the sockets lie within the channel of the fixture. The xturewill thus occupy less space for shipping and there will be less chanceof damaging the sockets. When the fixture is to be placed in service thesockets may be rotated to their erect position and screws passed throughthe socket plate assembly to hold it firmly in place.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A combined end and socket plate assembly for a fluorescent lightingfixture having a channel member, said assembly formed from a one pieceblank having a first panel portion having an apertured top for saidassembly; a pair of second panel portions articulated to opposed ends ofsaid top and extending normal to the plane of said top, thereby toprovide a spaced pair of side flanges thereon, each of which whenassembled with a lighting fixture channel member bears against anassociated leg portion of said channel member in substantiallyface-to-face contact therewith, each side of said second panels havingpivot means for attachment to the associated leg of said channel; and athird panel portion articulated to a side of said top and extending inthe same direction as the side flanges, said third panel portion beingadapted to provide said end plate of said assembly, said end plate beingadapted substantially to enclose the open end of said channel, at leasta portion of said third panel being separable from said assembly toprovide a connector for a pair of lighting fixtures disposed end-to-end.

2. A member as defined in claim 1 wherein said blank includes a fourthpanel portion articulated to said top on the side opposite to said thirdpanel and adapted to be normal to said top to provide a front wall forsaid assembly and yat least one further panel defined by a `U-shapedslit having the open ends thereof terminating in said front wall, saidfurther panel extending in a direction toward said third panel definingthe end plate of the assembly.

3. A device according to claim l wherein said blank is formed of metal.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first panel portion isprovided with at least one mounting hole for fastening a fluorescentlighting socket to said panel.

5. A device according to claim 1 and wherein a knockout portion isprovided in said third panel portion.

6. A device according to claim l wherein said pair of second panelportions are each provided with a hole, the edge portions of which areextruded in such a manner that when the blank is formed into a socketplate and end plate structure the edges of the hole are extrudedoutwardly and project into associated apertures in the legs of saidchannel.

7. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said further panel abutsagainst the third panel which forms said end and bears upon a tab struckout from said end.

8. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly for a fluorescentlighting fixture comprising a top plate having at least one aperturetherein adapted to receive a fluorescent lighting socket, a front plateconnected with and extending at right angles to said top plate, a pairof side flanges extending at right angles and in the same direction assaid front plate and connected to said top plate, said side flangesbeing normal to the front plate, and an end plate connected to said topplate and extending parallel to and in the same direction as said frontplate and a socket plate struck out from said end plate to abut saidfront plate and being disposed to underlie the aperture in said topplate and extending in a plane parallel to the plane of said top plate,said socket plate being positioned to receive and support a fixturesocket disposed in said aperture.

9. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly for a fluorescentlighting fixture according to claim 8 wherein the portion of said endplate remote from said top plate is joined to the remainder of said endplate by a weakened portion and is adapted to be severed from said endplate.

10. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly according to claim 8wherein said end plate is provided with a knock-out portion.

11. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly according to cl-aim 8wherein said end plate is provided with a pair of locating tabs adaptedto support the free ends of the socket plates.

12. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly according to claim 8wherein said side flanges are each provided with an outwardly extrudedhole and adapted to engage a corresponding hole formed in the side wallof the fixture to which said combined socket plate and end plateassembly is afiixed.

13. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly according to claim 8wherein each side flange is further provided with a slot through which afastening may be passed to fix the combined socket plate and end platein the fluorescent lighting fixture.

14. A combined socket plate and end plate assembly according to claim 13wherein the portion of said en d plate remote from said top plates isconnected to said end plate by a weakened portion and is adapted to besevered from said end plate, said severed portion being provided with atleast four holes, the holes being arranged longitudinally of the severedportion, the outermost holes being adapted to receive the outwardlyextruded holes in said side flange, the innermost holes being adapted toreceive fastening means extending through said holes and through saidslot in said side flange.

15. A combined socket plate and end plate for a fluorescent lightingfixture having a channel member, said assembly being formed from a onepiece blank having a first panel including an opening therein adapted toreceive a fluorescent lighting socket and a pair of second panelsdisposed respectively at opposed ends of said first panel andarticulated along spaced parallel fold lines, a third panel connected tosaid first panel by a linear weakened portion and disposed between saidpair of second panels, a fourth panel connected to said third panel by alinear weakened portion parallel to said first weakened portion, saidfourth panel being side joined to a pair of fifth panels by fold linesparallel with said above mentioned parallel fold lines, a sixth paneljoined to said fourth panel by a fold line parallel to said weakenedportions, said second, fifth and sixth panels being adapted to be foldedin the same direction and at right angles to the first, and fourthpanels respectively to form a socket plate and end plate joined by saidthird panel, said third panel being adapted -to be severed from saidfirst panel and said fourth panel at said weakened portion, said endplate being adapted to nest within said socket plate and adapted forconnection thereto.

16. A one piece blank according to claim 15 wherein said second panelsare provided with an extruded hole on each of said second panels, saidextruded holes being adapted on folding of said blank to cooperate withcorresponding holes formed in the walls of the fluorescent lightingfixture, to mount said socket plate to said fluorescent lightingfixture.

17. A one piece blank according to claim 15 wherein said fourth panel isprovided with a knock-out portion.

18. A one piece blank according to claim l5 wherein said fifth panelsare provided with a plurality of openings through which fastening meansmay be passed for fastening the folded end plate and a lighting fixture.

19. An integral socket plate and end plate assembly for a flourescentlighting fixture comprising a top plate having an opening thereinadapted to receive a fluorescent lighting socket, a pair of side flangesextending normal to said top plate and having therein extruded holes forengagement to corresponding holes formed in the side walls of a lightingfixture, a top tab connected to an end of said top plate by a weakenedportion and to an end plate by a further weakened portion, a pair ofside tabs extending normal to said end plate in the same direction asthe side l? anges extend from said top plate, and a bottom tab extendingfrom an end of and normal to said end plate in the same direction assaid side tabs, said end plate being adapted to be severed from said topplate by separating said top tab from said top plate and for subsequentmounting in nesting engagement with said socket assembly.

20. A socket plate and end plate assembly according to claim 19 whereinsaid end plate is provided with a knock- Out.

21. A socket plate and end plate assembly according to claim 19 whereinsaid side tabs are provided with a pluralu ity of openings for fasteningsaid side tabs to said socket plate and to a lighting fixture.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,681,172 Sanford June 15, 1954 2,905,809 Pascucci Sept. 22, 19592,924,702 Block Feb. 8, 1960 2,958,763 Bodian Nov. 1, 1960 2,972,675Schiffer Feb. 21, 1961 2,982,850 Lister May 2, 1961 3,025,391 Golko Mar.13, 1962

1. A COMBINED END AND SOCKET PLATE ASSEMBLY FOR A FLUORESCENT LIGHTINGFIXTURE HAVING A CHANNEL MEMBER, SAID ASSEMBLY FORMED FROM A ONE PIECEBLANK HAVING A FIRST PANEL PORTION HAVING AN APERTURED TOP FOR SAIDASSEMBLY; A PAIR OF SECOND PANEL PORTIONS ARTICULATED TO OPPOSED ENDS OFSAID TOP AND EXTENDING NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID TOP, THEREBY TOPROVIDE A SPACED PAIR OF SIDE FLANGES THEREON, EACH OF WHICH WHENASSEMBLED WITH A LIGHTING FIXTURE CHANNEL MEMBER BEARS AGAINST ANASSOCIATED LEG PORTION OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBER IN SUBSTANTIALLYFACE-TO-FACE CONTACT THEREWITH, EACH SIDE OF SAID SECOND PANELS HAVINGPIVOT MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE ASSOCIATED LEG OF SAID CHANNEL; AND ATHIRD PANEL PORTION ARTICULATED TO A SIDE OF SAID TOP AND EXTENDING INTHE SAME DIRECTION AS THE SIDE FLANGES, SAID THIRD PANEL PORTION BEINGADAPTED TO PROVIDE SAID END PLATE OF SAID ASSEMBLY, SAID END PLATE BEINGADAPTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO ENCLOSE THE OPEN END OF SAID CHANNEL, AT LEASTA PORTION OF SAID THIRD PANEL BEING SEPARABLE FROM SAID ASSEMBLY TOPROVIDE A CONNECTOR FOR A PAIR OF LIGHTING FIXTURES DISPOSED END-TO-END.